Tumbling toy



April 12, 1960 Filed April 24, 1959 G. H. BISCHOFF TUMBLING TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll II II L |////////77Z *1 E: :J

I; a {I 2 6 INVENTOR.

GUSTAV H. BISGHQFF QW W April 12, 19 0 G. H. BISCHOFF 2,932,824

TUMBLING TOY Filed April 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

GUSTAV H. BISCHOF'F operate in an automatic parent from the following description,

line 2-2 of Figure body portion ll,

weight is shown as eccentric with it dttes This invention relates to amusement devices, and, more particularly, to a tumbling toy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy designed to simulate an animate object and adapted to manner so as to provide a tumbling or repetitive hand springing-simulative movement, whereby the body of the toy is in a constant rotating state while traveling. Such an animated effect is most novel in the art since heretofore toys of this type have only been adapted for a walking-simulative movement brought about by oscillatory action.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy of the'character stated which does not incorporate motor means, such as springs and the like, nor any intricate mechanical elements or working parts, and, thus, is not subject to ready breakdown but is durable and reliable in usage. I

It is a further object of the present-invention to provide a tumbling toy which may be most economically manufactured, having a marked simplicity of parts and of low cost material, and the operation of which has proved fascinating well as adults.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, Wh6IlI1- Figure 1 is a. side elevational view of the tumbling toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, illustrating the same in substantially central or initial position.

Figure 2'is a horizontal 'transversesecti'on taken on the Figure 3 is a side elevational'view of the toy illustrating same in an intermediate position of its movement cycle.

Figure 4 is a front end view.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, designates a tumbling toy incorporating a light weight, relatively rigid material suchas wood, or a suitable plastic, and may be provided with a plurality of conventional openings (not shown) for weight reduction purposes. As shown in the drawing, body 1 is formed and surface decorated to represent, stylistically, a human being, such as, in this instance, a clown, but it will be readily appreciated that any othertype of human being, as well as animal, might be depicted. Said body l at its upper. end mounts a head portion 2 which may be formed of shallow, matching sections 2', 2 having registering recesses 3', 3 respectivelyfor developing when secured together a chamber dwithin which is'fixed a Weight 5 constituting a metallicdislt as of lead or the like. Said and interestholding for children as all) which is preferably flat, being formed of shaped member 8, which member 12,

so that the rearward 2,932,824 Patented Apr. 12, 1960 tom portion 6 which carries in its rearward or heel portion,

disks, but it is obvious that the same may have any of numerous forms, since the weight factor and not the coutouring or design is critical.

The lower end edge of portion 6 is convex or arcuate and, on each of its sides, is continuous, and preferably integral with, a co-extensive lateral arcuate or rockermembers cooperate to form a support base for toy A.

Fixed in a suitable opening in body I, located upon the vertical center line thereof and spacedly upwardly of substantially concentric relationship, are normally in immediately vertically registering, tionship, so that, in effect, each center without interference.

At the lower end but spaced apart, relamay move about their provided a weight,

' members 12 willbe influenced thereby, as the forward portions will be of relatively less weight. Weights 29 may be metallic disks inserted in suitable openings in said arms merely be portions of increased thickness as formed inof the rearward portion of said members in any way adversely affecting the operability of the toy. The said weights 20 serve primarily to restrain the mem-- bers 12 from rocking too far forwardly, or over-rocking, and hencetheir disposition for such purpose may be either as shown or i said members 12.

Each member 12 at its forward end vided on its under surface with a detent a support surface, to be described, for limitingforward rocking and travel of said members 12.

It is important that the centers of weights disposed upon an axis, as-shown in dotted lines 1, which passes through a pivot point, such as at p located rearwardly of pivot pm 9. Arms 11 are ofsuch length that the distance between pivot pin 9 and the lower extremity of said arms 11 is greater than the distance from saidpivot pin 9 to the uppermost edge of head 2.

In operation, toy A is placed upon an inclined surface as indicated at S in Figure l, in initial or upright position, supported upon rocker base members 3. Due. to the disposition of head weight 5 and the gravitational .actor caused by the inclination of surface S, head 2 or the upper end portion of body it will swing downwardly about pivot pin 9 simultaneously causing rocker base members 8 to swing upwardly and rearwardly from under, and away from, hand-simulative members which latter are thereby brought into toy-supporting relationship upon inclined surface S. Weight 5 as it moves downpoised for which will drive head weight upwardly to its upper or pulling force on pivot pin wardlyiwill develop momentum for assisting it on its thence upward and rearward travel. However, as weight 5 approaches the nadir of its angular path, heel weight 7 will then be disposed forwardly of pivot pin 9 and thus downward and forward swinging movement initial position for a repetition of the operational cycle. The relative positions and weights of head and heel weights 5, 7 is most critical for effecting the tumbling- ,simulative movement of toy A, as it has been found that deviations in any respect der' the toy inoperative.

As head 2 moves downwardly it will exert a forward which will cause handsimulative members 12 to roll or rock forwardly upon their forward end portions upon inclined surface S, with such movement having a forward traveling component whereby toy A will progress down such surface. Weights 20 also serve to assist members 12 in the initial portion of their forward movement for effecting the travel therefrom such relationship renof. As the distance between pivot pin 9 and the upper edge of head 2 is less than the distance between said pivot pin 9 and the lower end of arms 11, head 2 will move between said arms 11 without impeding contact with surface S. As indicated above, toy A will during its operation be alternatingly supported upon base rocker members 8 and hand-simulative members 12, thereby creating the desired animated effect. But the novel relationship between said members 8, 12 will permit such alternation to be smoothly accomplished since as handsimulative members 12 will swing upwardly and rearwal'dly,v and vice versa, so that the movements are harmoniously inter-related.

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the toy of the present invention operates in an automatic manner without the necessity of springs, or other types of motors, and the like, and is hence not subject to ready breakdown. The said toy may be most economically produced in view of its simplicity and lack of working parts and as the basic material of construe-- tion is of most limited weight. In view of such minimal weight of the body and other portions of toy A, the relative weights of head and heel weights 5, 7 will substantially determine and control the reliability of the tumbling "action.

The constant novel movement or tumbling-simulatrve action of toy A has proved a source of entrancing fascination for children as well as adults, and hence, constrtutes a source of continual amusement and the like.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and

combination of the several parts of the tumbling toy may be made and substituted from these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A tumbling toy simulative of a figure having a head, ,a body, and arms, said head having a weighted portion, an arcuate, rocker support member provided at the lower end of said body, said support member having a weighted portion, the weighted portion of said head being of greater Weight than the Weighted portion of said support member, said head weighted portion being located at least partially forwardly of the vertical axis of the toy, said arms being pivotally engaged on said body, the weighted portions of said head and said support member being located upon an axis passing through said body rearwardly of the pivot connections of said arms, an arcuate, hand-simulative rocker member carried at the lower end of each arm and being formed upon substantially the same are as said rocker support member but having their respective bottom surfaces formed upon a slightly shorter radius than the bottom surface of said support memward portion of said support her, the length of each arm from its pivot connection being greater than the distance between said arm pivot connections and the upper end edge of said head.

2. A tumbling toy as described in claim 1 and further characterized by said support member being of greater weight in its rearward portion than in its forward portion.

3. A tumbling toy as described in claim 1 and further characterized by the weighted portion of the head comprising a weight member carried in said head, said support member being of greater weight in its rearward portion than in its forward portion, and the center of said head weight and the center of the weighted rearward portion of the support member being located on an axis passing through said body rearwardly of the pivot con nections of said arms.

4. A tumbling toy simulative of a figure having a head, a body and arms, a weight carried in said head, said head weight being located at least partially forwardly of the vertical axis of the toy, an arcuate, rocker support member provided at the lower end of said body and extending from front to back thereof, the rearward portion of said support member being of greater weight than the forward portion thereof, said head'weight being of greater weight than the rearward portion of said support member, said arms being pivotally engaged on said body, the center of said head weight and the center of the rearmember being located upon anaxis passing through said body rearwardly of the pivot connections of said arms, an arcuate, hand-simulative rocker. member carried at the lower end of each arm and being formed upon substantially the same are as said rocker support member but having their respective bottom surfaces formed upon a slightly shorter radius than the bottom surface of said support member, the rearward end portions of said hand-simulative members being of greater weight than the forward end portions thereof, the length of each arm from its pivot connection being greater than the distance between said arm pivot connections and the upper end edge of said head, said hand-simulative members being of greater extent than said support member and each carrying at least at one of its ends a support-surface engaging depending detent.

5. A tumbling toy simulative of a figure having a head, a body and arms, an arcuate, rocker support member provided at the lower end of said body, said arms being pivotally engaged on said body, an arcuate, hand-simulative rocker member carried at the lower end of each arm and being formed upon substantially the same are as said rocker support member but having their respective bottom surfaces formed upon a slightly shorter radius than the bottom surface of said support member, the length of each arm from its pivot connection distance between said arm pivot connections and the upper end edge of said head, said toy being eccentrically weighted, the portion of the toy above the arm pivot connection being of greater weight than the portion therebelow, the portion of said toy rearwardly of saidrarm pivot connections being of greater weight than the portion forwardly thereof, and the center of gravity of said toy being located above and rearwardly of said arm pivot connections.

6. A tumbling toy simulative of a figure having a head, a body and arms, an arcuate, rocker support member provided at the lower end of said body, said arms being pivotally engaged on said body, an arcuate, hand-simulative rocker member carried at the lower end of each arm and being formed upon substantially the same are .as said rocker support member but having their respecbeing greater than the I 1y weighted, the portion of the toy above the arm pivot References Cited in the file of this patent connection being of greater weight than the portion therebelow, the portion of said toy rearwardly and below of JNITED STATES PATENTS said arm pivot connections being of greater weight than 2,021,588 Baker Nov. 19, 1935 the portion forwardly and below said arrn pivot connec- 5 2, 3 ak r e 7, 1935 tions, and the center of gravity of said my being located 2,100,372 Barton Nov. 30, 1937 above and rearwardly of said arm pivot connections. 2,389,365 Johnson Nov. 20, 1945 

